IABC UK Blog

In advance of that we knocked a few heads together to learn about the practical tools and resources that they drew on as they were setting up shop.

Testing an idea

Stephen Welch is an independent consultant who, amongst other things, advises governments on strategic communications. “You might not know it, but tucked away inside the British Library is a gem called the IP & Business Centre” says Stephen. “It is a great, free, resource which helps you with everything you need to know about setting up a business. And there are loads of resources, market intelligence, data, for you to help set yourself up for success.”

“Not only that, they offer grants, meetings, coaching and 1:1 sessions. For example, we got a meeting with the ‘inventor-in-residence’ to give advice on protecting IP, licensing a product in other countries. He also did a quick financial evaluation (what is the value of this idea?) which gave a lot of confidence that we were on the right track.”

Sophia Cheng, a digital nomad, runs With Many Roots and swears by her Impact Hub membership. “It gives me access to 90+ co-working spaces and a warm welcome around the world”. “An essential resource due to the type of strategic comms projects I run, which often require time in far-flung places.” She adds: “Going it alone, can get lonely, so it’s beneficial to connect with like-minded folks. Many hubs host regular ‘clinics’ – where you can get advice from a lawyer or accountant and informal networking events to make connections in-country. From new business opportunities, serendipitous partnerships or a new companion in a new city, home is where my hub is.”

“Focus is what people often struggle with the most when setting up a knowledge-based business”.

“Even the best can fall into the trap of trying to be all things to all people. One favourite (and timeless) exercise includes a sheet of A3 paper and a pen… try it out.”

And if you can’t make it to the Business & IP Centre (recommended by Stephen above) then have a look at Statista which has a wealth of data. Just be wary of the 1% fallacy, as a chap called Andy Brice puts it. For a deeper dive into the what, how, where and why of starting up, check out Michael’s Business Plan Basics Prezi.

Cash is king

Benoit Simoneau runs 514 Media which is coming up to its first anniversary, which is significant milestone. He says:

“Finally don’t forget: cash is king. Or to be precise: your cashflow is. As an independent practitioner, it is your responsibility to get your clients to pay you quickly. After all, you can’t spend money while it is in your client’s bank account. Here are five top tips to get paid quickly:

Don’t do any work without a Purchase Order or at least a full written/email confirmation.

On any project longer than 2-3 weeks, tell the client it is your normal practice to invoice 50% up front. Or agreed a staged invoicing process so you get paid at regular intervals.

Be open with clients about “this is how I make my money”.

Charge slow payers more on the next project. Or stop working with them.

Don’t be afraid to withhold delivery of part 2 if they have not yet paid part 1. I’ve only ever done this once in my career: often the threat of it is enough.

There’s a business phrase called “delivery to cash”. What is the time lag between when you deliver a service to when you get paid. For a full-time monthly paid employee it is typically 15: you get paid at the end of the month for the work you do that month.

Adapt your pitch

Review and update your CV – correct spelling as appropriate – and remove anything that doesn’t have a result attached to it. Think through your portfolio stories (Situation, Task, Action, Result – or STAR for short) and practice them. Then make sure your LinkedIn profile matches. Yes, people do look you up before they meet you.

Build your network

That said, doing a lot of listening first is never a bad move. You might want to read this book as a fresh take on that topic. Don’t be fooled by the cover.

And … look out for interesting MeetUp events beyond that – meetup.com/

Find a headhunter

Before you approach them, be absolutely clear about what you’re looking for (something that interests you; you’re good at; and others will pay for). Respect their time.

The Japanese call it Ikigai and the World Economic Forum has a useful article on this with a beautiful Venn – but I digress. The point is: cement your personal Venn with STAR stories. That alignment will make all the difference. And having interviewed 100s of people in the last 20+ years I can confidently say that following this format is the key to impressing any interview panel.

Do your due diligence

If a listed company, read the annual report and listen to the latest investor call. You’ll be surprised what is hidden in plain sight – useful for the interview process. If it is privately held, look them up: Companies House. Or if a charity, use the Charity Commission website. And you may want to check out Glassdoor and Crunchbase too – and if you’re willing to spend: a service like DueDil. If not, general Googling is useful – including news.google.com/

“I knew from the outset that the IABC mentoring scheme didn’t mean being coddled by my advisor, nor that I would be handed jobs on a silver platter,” commented Miguel Edgardo Cortez, previously a Masters in Public Relations student from the London College of Communication and latterly, a member of IABC’s UK board.

Miguel has been a mentee with the IABC UK’s mentoring programme and in discussion with his mentor, mentioned he was looking for worthwhile, practical learning opportunities. He was invited onto the Board to give the student perspective, and help design events to attract this demographic to IABC UK.

“I’m thankful I’ve been given the chance to work alongside some of the UK’s best practitioners,” he added. “It’s increased my self confidence and given me insights I might not have had otherwise.”

Lifelong learning is essential to any professional, but in communication, where the latest technological advance may rapidly make your knowledge obsolete – it’s vital. Mentoring isn’t just for students – it’s for everyone.

Miguel’s mentor was Mike Pounsford, current chair of IABC. But experienced as he is, Mike has his own mentoring story to tell.

“At the mentor training we ran a couple of years ago, I got into conversation with another senior communication practitioner,” he recalled. “I realised that he knew about a lot an area of communication that I hadn’t worked in – and essentially, he became my mentor.

“It has nothing to do with age. It’s about experience you don’t have.”

The IABC UK mentoring scheme has been running for about five years. Strangely, knowledge of it inside the membership seems patchy, and Mike is very keen to change this.

“We make an effort with students doing their Masters in communication, but really, anyone can benefit and if you want this kind of experienced, trusted advisor – you ought to get involved.”

Of course, IABC UK isn’t just looking for people who want to be mentored, it’s also looking for mentors. You need a specialism or expertise and some experience in the workplace, and to attend the IABC UK Mentor training.

“The mentor training includes some skills which are essential in the workplace anyway – asking good questions and listening, for example,” said Mike. “More than anything, it’s about developing a trusting relationship with your mentee. I found it hugely enjoyable, and learned loads about myself and my mentees.”

If you would like to be either a mentee OR offer yourself as a mentor, please contact [email protected]

The launch of the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) is coming soon, and will affect organisations in the UK and across the globe. This will fundamentally alter the scale, scope and complexity of the way personal information is processed. Join IABC UK on Thursday, 8 February when Anna Murphy, GDPR Director at KPMG, will introduce us to the core aspects of the new regulations: the rights of personal data owners under GDPR, what to do in the event of a security breach, and the “right to be forgotten”.

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Who is IABC UK

The International Association of Business Communicators in the UK is a network of communications, marketing and PR professionals united by their passion for communications and aiming to develop themselves as world-class business communicators.

How does IABC UK differ from other communications associations?

1) The international reach of its parent company - IABC has 13,000 members worldwide. This allows members to connect and establish business and networking relationships regardless of the country they live and work in.

2) It welcomes and attracts members from a broad spectrum of marketing and communication disciplines and sectors, thereby fostering diversity of perspectives and tapping into a larger pool of expertise for insights and trends.